Toy



s. s. SCHMIDT 2,169,710

TOY

Filed Jan. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

s. s. SCHMIDT 2,169,710

TOY

Filed Jan. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. %hrrzzzefii J!" in? ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 uNiTEo STATES TOY Samuel S. Schmidt, York, Pa., assignor to Grey Iron Casting Company, Mount Joy, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 1937, Serial No. 122,917

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to toys and more particularly acrobatic toys which are both. amusing and instructive.

Children and even adults are fond of the 5 circus and usually are: thrilled by the daring feats of the acrobats. However, there is real difficulty in providing circus toys which will stimulate a childs interest in acrobatic feats, and at the same time be simple and comparatively inexpensive so that children from poor and rich families alike may purchase and enjoy them. It is important that the number of feats which can be performed be as great as possible and that the toy be capable of withstanding the rough usage to which children may subject it. A toy affording aerial feats such as trapeze gymnastics in addition to ground work is particularly desirable. It is further desirable that children may have'the pleasure of, and training in, setting up the toy and that the toy may be stored in a small space. Attempts have been made to provide toys with one or more. of the above characteristics, but the toys have been of an inferior type limited to one or a relatively few, acrobatic feats. None has afforded unlimited action or full and free use of the childs ingenuity and imagination.

The present invention aims to provide a toy which accomplishes the desired results indicated above, and particularly aims to provide an inexpensive acrobatic toy which is both amusing and instructive, and which affordsan infinite number of acrobatic feats of both the aerial and ground type. The invention also aims to achieve these results with an inexpensive toy which can be packed in a small box by the manufacturer and can be readily assembled bya small child;

An object of thepresent invention is to provide a toy for the performance of a maximum number of acrobatic featsof both the aerial and ground type.

Another object of the invention is to utilize rigid and inexpensive structures and to prevent damage to the furniture on which the toy may be mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down trapeze and net construction which can be readily packed and assembled or taken apart by a small child.

Another object of the invention is to provide an acrobatic set comprising a trapeze and net construction and figures or manikins adapted to cooperate with the trapeze construction to simulate acrobatic performances of both aerial and ground type.

Another object of the invention is to provide inexpensive figures or manikins which are rugged in construction and which can withstand rough usage.

Another object of the invention is to provide figures or manikins which are shaped in predetermined positions or postures to fix the center of gravity at a point which facilitates balancing the figures and the performance of acrobatic stunts.

Another object of the invention is to provide rigid figures or manikins which are adapted to be posed in numerous. realistic positions as well as in grotesque or ridiculous positions.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the cost of the toy by providing rigid jointless figures preformed toassume numerous positions both alone and in combination with other figures either on or off a trapeze or similar construction.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail of the base construction;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating a trapeze in detail;

Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary perspective view illustrating means for mounting the net construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a toy figure or manikin, in detail;

I Fig. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating one of the acrobatic feats which the figure is capable of performing;

Fig. 7 is an illustration of another acrobatic feat;

Fig, 8 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating another toy figure or manikin;

Fig. 9 is an illustration of one of the acrobatic feats which the figure, shown in Fig. 8, is capable of performing;

Fig. 10 is an illustration of another acrobatic feat; and

Fig. 11 is an illustration of still another acrobatic feat.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a toy acrobatic device comprising a pair of base members I each having an aperture 2 at one side thereof for receiving the respective ends 3 of an elongated member 4 adapted to connect the base members in spaced relation. A suitable aperture 5 is provided at the top of each of the base members for receiving the lower end 6 of an upright member I adapted to be utilized for supporting acrobatic swings or the like. apertures 2 and 5 are at the middle of the base members and meet at right angles, whereby ends 3 of the base connecting member are adapted to bear against the lower ends 6 of the upright member 1 to provide a more rigid construction (Fig. 2). The members 4 and I and the apertures 2 and 5 preferably are round, because round apertures can be readily drilled, but, if'desired, may be square or any other suitable shape. Another advantage of making the apertures round is that the members 4 and I may be frictionally fitted into the apertures by slightly rotating them thus facilitating assembling the device and taking it apart.

In order to provide simple means for mounting acrobatic swings and the like, the upper ends 9 (Fig. 3) of the upright members I are each provided with an aperture l0 adapted to receive a downwardly extending end I l of a substantially horizontal member or cross-bar l2, preferably formed of relatively stiif wire or the like. The cross-bar I2 provides a support for suitable acrobatic equipment, for example, a pair of trapezes I4, a double trapeze or flying trapeze [5, a swing rope [6 having weighted members such as balls I! at the ends thereof, and a horizontal bar I!) attached to the end of a rope 20. The bar I9 is commonly called a mysterious twister because the rope may be twisted to cause it to untwist and rotate the bar. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the trapezes are pivotally mounted to the cross-bar by folding the ends of the trapezes into eyelets 2| which permit swinging and lateral movement of the trapeze but retain them on the cross-bar. Suitable figures or manikins, which will be described hereafter, are adapted to be placed or posed on the various acrobatic equipment to simulate acrobatic feats and on the cross-bar [2 which may be used as a tight wire.

In order to prevent injury to the figures or manikins and to the furniture on which the toy may be mounted, a safety net 25 is mounted beneath the trapezes for catching the manikins in the event that they fall. The net may be made of suitable mesh material and may be rectangular in shape and preferably has a string or rope 26 attached to each corner which is tied to a supporting post 21. Preferably, the posts are mounted in apertures 29 provided in each base member adjacent the ends thereof and extend upwardly and slightly outwardly to stretch the net. The posts 21 may have slots 30 (Fig. 4) at their upper ends for tying the ropes 26 by means of bows or knots 3|, or if desired, each rope may have a preformed loop adapted to be slipped into the recesses to simplify mounting the net.

In Figs. 5 to 10 of the drawings, the manikins or figures adapted to cooperate with each other and with the trapezes, are shown in detail. Preferably, these figures resemble clowns in order to appeal to children, but the present invention contemplates the use of acrobats, gymnasts, or the like, or even animals adapted to perform acro- Preferably, the

batic feats. For example, costumed bears or dogs could be shaped to perform the stunts about to be described.

Preferably, the figures are made of cast iron but may be made of lead, plastics or any other suitable material which is readily molded and is adapted to withstand the rough usage to which the figures may be subjected. After the figures are formed, they may be painted or otherwise decorated to make them attractive. If the figures resemble clowns, as shown herein, they are preferably painted with bright contrasting colors to resemble costumes and facial makeup.

A preferred form of clown A is illustrated in Fig. 5 which comprises a head 34, having a cap 35 thereon, a body 36, arms 31 and legs 39. The arms are crooked at the elbows and extend upwardly and forwardly. The arms terminate in hands 40 bent at substantially right angles with respect to the forearm, to provide hooks for engaging the acrobatic apparatus. The hands are also adapted to cooperate with the cap to provide a tripod when the clown stands in inverted position. The body is bent forwardly slightly and is provided with buttons 4| or other projections, and a belt or outwardly flared ruffle 42 about the waist. The belt 42 preferably has a notch or recess 44 at the front and back of the clown which permit the clown to lie on a tight rope or the like face up or down or to hold a balancing pole 45 in vertical position. The legs 39 are in straddling position and have flat feet 46 for supporting the clown in standing position; The feet extend forwardly from the legs at substantially right angles and are adapted to act as hooks for hanging the clown by its feet from the trapezes. The clown preferably is provided with trousers having portions 41 flared outwardly from the ankles to the thighs which are adapted to engage the sides of the trapezes to hold the clown therein in various positions.

A few of the many stunts which the clown A is adapted to perform, either in combination with another clown A or with the acrobatic equipment, are shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 7. In Fig. 1, at the left hand side of the trapeze support, a clown A is shown hanging by its feet 46 from the trapeze l4, and another clown A is standing on the first clowns feet with the elbows and flared portions 4'! of the trousers engaging the sides of the trapeze to hold the clown thereon. In Fig. 6 a clown A is shown standing on its feet and holding the balancing pole 45 in vertical position with its shoulder. A second clown A is balanced on the pole by seating the pole in the notch 44 and engaging the underside of the lowermost button 4| with the top of the pole. A similar stunt is shown in Fig. '7 wherein a clown A is balanced on the top of the pole in downwardly facing position. This stunt is performed by causing the top of the pole to engage the body of the clown substantially at the center of gravity thereof.

The clown A, when on the ground, can also sit or rest on its hands and toes. When placed on a tight Wire or on the horizontal bar l2, it can lie on its back or face along the wire or lie on its face across the wire. It can sit facing either along or across the wire and stand on its chin and forearms with its shoulders parallel to the Wire (Fig. 11). It can also hang from the wire by its feet, the bottom button or by either hand.

When the clown A is placed on the trapeze [4 it can lie on its face across the trapeze or sit either facing along or across the trapeze. It can hang by either hand, or the bottom button. In addition, the clown A can lie across the trapeze either face up or down held by the flare 41 of the trousers, or held by the shoulders. It can hang down when held by the flare of the coat or belt and steadied by the tips of the hands and can stand on head on the trapeze.

From the above it will be noted that the figure is so designed that the feet (it, flare of the trousers Al, the flare of the coat or belt 42, but tons of the coat 4|, arms 31, hands 40, head 34 and shoulders may be used separately or in conjunction with another part of the figure to enable the figure to simulate acrobatic stunts on the ground, on the horizontal wire l2, or on the trapeze, as well as in combination with another figure of similar design.

Another form of clown B is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 8 which comprises a body 50, a head 5! provided with a cap 53, and upwardly stretched arms 52 having hands 54 extending forwardly and slightly downwardly therefrom to provide hook-shaped portions for engaging acrobatic equipment. The clown has legs 55 bowed outwardly at its'knees 55 with the heels 5i in contact with each other to provide an aperture 59 between the legs. The legs have trousers pro- Vided with a rufiie 5!! at the knees which serves as an engaging portion for cooperating with the trapezes or other clowns of the set. The feet 6! extend outwardly and sidewardly, and the toes turned upwardly to provide hooks for engaging the trapezes and the like.

A few of the many stunts which the clowns B can perform are illustrated in Figs. 1, 9 and 10. In Fig. 1 a clown B is shown hanging by its hands on each end of the double trapeze l5 and a clown B is shown hanging by its feet from the twister bar i9. Another clown B is shown standing on the trapeze H3 at the right hand side of the figure with the ruffle or flare 6!! of the knees steadying it. The clown can also stand on its head either on the ground or on the tight wire l2 (Fig. 11), by utilizing the head or the hat 53 in conjunction with the hands 55 to provide a tripod. In Fig. 9 a clown B is hanging from a trapeze and a second clown B is hanging by its feet 6! from the feet 6! of the first clown.

In Fig. 10 a clown B is shown performing a stunt in combination with a clown A. Clown B is hanging by its hands 5 from a trapeze and clown A has its head 36 in the aperture 59 between the legs of clown B whereby the legs 55 of clown B support clown A. Clown A may support, or be supported by clown B by engaging the outstretched hands of the two figures while either clown is hanging head downwards from a trapeze or tightwire. When the clowns face opposite directions the suspended clown may pivot freely from the suspending hands. When facing in the same direction, the hands engaged, the figures are locked in one position, in relation one to the other, by gravity, so permitting the development of stunts of an entirely different type.

In addition to the above stunts, the clown B can hang from the tight wire or trapeze by either hand or foot or by both hands or by both feet. It can hang from the trapeze by its knees either face up or down. It can also kneel on the trapeze with the folds of the trousers Gil hooked into the corners of the trapeze.

From the above description, it will be noted that the figure is so designed that the feet 6|,

knees 56, flare of the trousers at the knees 60, hips, Waist, shoulders, elbows, hands 54 and head 51 may be used separately or in conjunction with another part to enable the figure to perform numerous acrobatic stunts. Additional stunts may be developed when the clowns B are used separately or incombination with other clowns B or with clowns A, either on the ground, tight wire, trapezes, twister bar, swing rope or balancing pole. Delicacy of touch, sense of balance, and imagination in developing new stunts are the only factors necessary for an infinite number of other stunts.

The set illustrated herein can be readily packed to provide an attractive package by placing the base member I, member 4, uprights l, trapeze support l2, net 25 and posts 21 in a flat box and mounting the clowns, swing rope and balancing pole on the bottom of the box. A child can easily assemble the trapeze and net stand by inserting the parts into the proper apertures or joints and attaching the net to the posts 21. It can then play with the set, take it apart and put it back in the box until it desires to play with it again.

It will be seen. that the present invention pro-- vides a simple, inexpensive toy which is both instructive and amusing. The various acrobatic feats are fascinating and stimulate the imagination of the child. The present set also interests adults and encourages them to teach children how to play with the toy. By combining the clowns or other figures with the acrobatic equip ment numerous additional stunts can be performed. Also, the motion of the swings or trapezes adds to the interest of the game. The net is realistic and prevents injuryto the clowns or to the furniture on which the toy is placed in the event that they fall from the trapezes or the like. The. parts of the presenttoy are rugged in construction and can readily withstand any rough usage to which they may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim? 1. In a knock-down acrobatic toy, the combination of a pair of base members, an elongated member havng each end connected to one of said base members, an upright member mounted on each of said base members at the middle thereof, a substantially horizontal member having its ends connected to the upper ends of said upright members, acrobatic swings mounted. on said substantially horizontal member to swing transversely thereof, said base members: each having a, pair of apertures therein adjacent the ends thereof, an upwardly extending stanchion member removably mounted in each of said apertures, and a net construction supported by said upwardly extending members.

2. A rigid toy figure comprising a head having a projecting chin, a body, and upwardly extending arms fixed in position and having portions cooperating with the chin of said head to provide three points; of sup-port for standing the figure in inverted position on a horizontal rod.

3. An acrobatic toy comprising a substantially rigid figure having a head, a body, and limbs, said body being provided with a belt portion, the center of gravity of said figure being substantially at said belt portion to facilitate balancing said figure, said belt portion having a notch therein adapted to receive a rod member, said belt member being adapted to cooperate 5; with other portions of said figure to hold, the

figure in balanced position.

4. An acrobatic toy comprising a, jointless preshaped life-like figure having a body and legs, each of said legs having a portion extending 1o,- outwardly from the side of the figure providing means cooperating with other portions of the figure for holding the figure on a trapeze or the like.

5. In an acrobatic toy the combination of a 15 substantially horizontally extending rod mem-- her and a rigid toy figure having a head, a body, legs and upwardly extending arms all fixed in. position, said arms having portions adjacent the hands and said head having a projecting portion below the top thereof lying in the same horizontal and vertical planes as said arm portions to provide a tripod for standing said figure in inverted position on a horizontal rod.

6. A rigid toy figure comprising a body, arms 5, and legs fixed in position with respect to each annular outwardly projecting belt portion provided with a recess for holding a rod member in substantially vertical position, said legs and arms being cast integral with the body.

8. A one-piece cast iron toy figure comprising a 'sidewardly and forwardly stretched arms, a substantially annular outwardly projecting belt portion on. the body adapted to cooperate with a rod to hold it in upright position, and legs having feet and having outwardly flared portions substantially at the knees thereof adapted to cooperate with the feet to hold the figure upright on a trapeze or the like.

9. A knock-down acrobatic toy, comprising a base having a plurality of recesses therein spaced a substantial distance from each other for receiving supporting members, upwardly extending supporting members removably inserted in said recesses, each of said members having a slot in the upper end thereof, a toy net having miniature ropes adapted to extend through the slots to removably attach said net to the upper ends of said supporting members, whereby said net may be readily detached, from said upwardly extending supporting members, and said supporting members may be readily detached from the base, a pair of upright members rigidly fixed with respect to said base, a horizontal member connecting the upper ends of said upright members and an acrobatic swing mounted onv said horizontal member above the net.

SAMUEL S. SCHMIDT. 

